Whether Sixth Form classes are reading Shakespeare, Dickens, twentieth century poets or postmodern novels, English teachers have one collective aim: to inspire students so that they develop a love of literature that will last a lifetime. An A level in English Literature not only encourages students to take bold and inquisitive approaches to the literary canon, but also to delve into the nuances of language so that they consider how writers across the centuries have explored the human condition. However, English Literature at A level is not just about studying language and reading books. It is also an opportunity to think critically and be challenged by diverse literary texts, as well as the ideas of others. This A level course will guide students to express themselves in a sophisticated way, both orally and in writing, and to defend their opinions with confidence. Students will therefore learn how to develop and sustain a cogent argument, supported by well-chosen textual evidence. English Literature provides windows into new worlds and gives enormous satisfaction as our understanding of more challenging texts grows. It is a disciplined yet lively subject, and prepares students to become independent learners, ready for the rigours of academic study at university. A Level English Literature students at Ashford School follow the Edexcel A Level specification. This course offers a broad and stimulating syllabus including Paper 1 (Drama: Shakespeare and a modern play); Paper 2 (Prose: Science and Society); Paper 3 (Modern Poetry and Pre-1900 Poet) and a coursework module. Key texts include: • One Shakespeare Tragedy: Antony and Cleopatra, Othello, King Lear or Hamlet • One other play: A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams or The Home Place, Brian Friel • Two prose texts from the chosen theme: Science and Society • Pre-1900: one from Frankenstein, Mary Shelley; The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells • Post-1900: one from Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro; The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood • Two poetry anthologies: Poetry of the Decade Anthology and one pre-1900 poet, either Chaucer, John Keats, Christina Rosetti or T.S. Eliot.